Letters 02-11-10

Thursday

Feb 11, 2010 at 6:25 AMFeb 11, 2010 at 6:27 AM

Recognizing rights

If you're a corporation and your labor force is unionized, how is it fair that your employees are able to contribute to their favorite political party or candidate and you're not? Unions have always been allowed to contribute huge amounts of money, and endorse their political favorites, and as a special interest lobby to the Democratic party they generally lean hard left.

The recent Supreme Court ruling allowing corporations their "right" to equal protection of the First Amendment sets a precedent that is long overdue. Democrats, including President Obama, have vigorously denounced the ruling for the simple reason that they know this ruling now equalizes the playing field and the immense influence of union money on the electoral process. To the Democrats consternation, their main meal ticket now has competition.

Darrel Hagen

Victorville

It's Obama's economy

If one did not know better, one would think Mr. Brown was reading off page 45 in the Democrat "Blame Bush for Everything" playbook. Try as he might, his attack on President Bush does not obviate the fact that Obama is spending us into oblivion. As of today, each and every U.S. citizen is in debt to the federal government for more than $40,000. Moreover, Obama just increased the national debt limit by an additional $1.9 trillion — and this is President Bush's fault? When polled, 54 percent of American voters are now worried about our mounting debt and another 32 percent are angry about it. Is it any wonder the Tea Party has grown to millions of concerned citizens of all political persuasions?

President Bush grew the deficit and voters reacted in 2006 when the Democrats took back both houses of Congress. Since that time the Democrats have controlled the purse strings in Congress. Mr. Brown can blame President Bush all he wants but the facts speak for themselves.

We have the Democrats to blame for the financial meltdown in housing, which incidentally President Bush tried to stop but was blocked by Barney Frank and Chris Dodd (see Fannie and Freddie). Ultimately, conservative and moderate voters of both parties said no to President Bush. That was then, this is now.

Liberals can blame President Bush all they want for their failures, but the blame now rests squarely on Obama's shoulders. For Tea Partiers, the issue is Obama's subversion of the Constitution, his profligate spending, high taxes, and attempted takeover of one-sixth of our economy. Thanks to them the American people finally woke up.

Tom Jahnk

Apple Valley

Follow your own lemming

Re: "Pots and kettles" (Michael Maher, Letters, Feb. 9).

All of this talk, such as that of Michael Maher, seems to be accomplishing little more than putting names and labels on each other in order to identify the opposing points of view as one's enemy. Personally, I do not agree with most of what Mr. Maher writes from time to time. This time, however, we might have common ground from which to end some controversy.

Some of us would be happy to follow a "Tea Party" lemming, for instance, if Mr. Maher would also follow his particular lemming of choice at the same time. I happen to believe that the Tea Party lemming would at least take the high road and lead us away from the complete and disastrous lack of leadership we have endured for the last year. I also believe Mr. Maher's lemming would, instead, continue to take the low road of name calling, denial, and sour grapes, eventually leading all of its followers over the cliff of no return.

One final thought; when it comes to National Health Care and Global Warming the answer is quite simple; our Constitution does not provide authority for such programs; our country does not have the money for such idealistic proposals; and the people of this Republic are refusing to stand down and allow this country to sink further into bankruptcy. By any name, we should be thankful for our newfound hope and courage.